The official blog of Illinois Issues magazine,
published by the Center for State Policy and Leadership
at the University of Illinois Springfield

Friday, February 22, 2013

Corrections begins awarding 'good time' off inmates' sentences

By Jamey Dunn

The Illinois Department of Corrections has begun awarding inmates time off of their sentences under a good-time credit law approved last year.

“After careful review, the department has begun to provisionally award supplemental sentence credit to approximately 12 eligible inmates. These provisional awards will become final awards of sentence credit near an inmate’s parole date. The department continues to review inmate files and will award credit to eligible low-level inmates as appropriate after careful and thoughtful review,” said a written statement from the DoC. So far, no inmates have been released early under the program.

But after the General Assembly approved legislation creating a new program for awarding non-violent prisoners time off their sentences for good behavior, Quinn signed the bill last summer. “We worked it out with the legislature. It was long in coming. A judge did a study of the whole system and recommended a number of reforms. The legislature took that study, put it into law. I signed it into law, and we’re carrying it out,” Quinn said earlier this week. “We’ve got to follow the blueprint that is outlined in the law, and I think we will do very well if we go forward right with that.”

The department is referring to the time off, as “supplemental sentence credit (SSC).” The credit can shave up to 180 days off a sentence. Inmates must serve 60 days before becoming eligible for program. According to a news release from DoC: “The file review includes a comprehensive examination of an offender’s current holding offense(s) as well as any criminal history and disciplinary record. Programming, educational courses, assignments and any other supporting evidence that could show an offender’s progression towards rehabilitation will also be reviewed.” After credit is awarded, the department can revoke it if an inmate has disciplinary problems.

Requirements for the program are listed on the department’s website. However, awarding of the credit is at the discretion of DoC. “It is important to note that even if an offender is potentially eligible for an award of SSC, the offender should not and does not have an outright expectation to receive an award,” the website states.
DoC says it will not be able to project who will receive credit under the program, and it will not respond to inquires about potential eligibility. “Because of the many factors the department intends to consider for each potentially eligible offender, it is impossible for the department to project whether or when any specific offender will receive an award of SSC credit. It is also not possible for the department to respond to inquiries concerning an offender’s likelihood of receiving an award of SSC due to the department’s policy that prevents the disclosure of confidential master record file information and criminal history.”
However, DoC says it will notify inmates who get credit, and the credit will be reflected on their profiles on the DoC’s website. The department is also required to notify local law enforcement at least two weeks before the parole date of any inmate who receives time off his or her sentence under the program.

This is quite ridiculous only 12 people and you have inmates living in infested environments. This program has been on hold for too long. If the qualified inmates have done well to abstain from disciplinary issues, why not release them back into society? How long should they wait?

I feel that the new credit law is not fair. My husband took classes and is not in there for a violent crime. So I ask him why they(IDOC) did not approve your good time and he does not know. I feel no I know they(IDOC) does not care about the inmates or the inmate family members. I just do not understand how IDOC can get away it this.PLEASE EXPLAIN

My children's father has a health condition. They dish him out meds but refuse to check his health (bp) without charging him!!!! Lawyer said bcuz good behavior & his poor health he should get this credit. If they would give it to him he could be home to his children in a few months instead its looking like the beginning of next year! These issues need to be address!!!! Yes they are criminals but they still are people.... And I'm sorry to say but spending all this time away for his non violet petty crime is keeping him from raising his children and could potentially cause issue within the next generation!! PEOPLE NOT NUMBERS!!!!

where is the accountability for this program??The director states in a news release that of 9000 eligible inmates only 1754 were approved by the "review committee" and less than 1% have been returned to confinement. This review is secret and subjective and the inmate is never given a reason for being denied. This makes the entire program suspect and has demoralized the inmates. You could be a "model" inmate and in all probability be rejected for the sentencing credit-no explanation-no accountability!!!

WELL I HOPE AND PRAY TO GOD THAT THEY HAVE GAVE MY HUSBAND ANY KIND OF GOOD TIMES SO HE CAN COME HOME TO HIS KIDS HE ONLY HAD 18 MONTHS AND HE HAD DID 8 OR 9 MONTHS SO FAR I CANT WAIT FAR HIM TO BE WITH HIS 2 YR OLD DAUGHTER AND HIS 7 MONTH OLD SON..

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The bureau follows state government from the Capitol Press Room and writes articles for Illinois Issues magazine, published by the Center for State Policy and Leadership at the University of Illinois at Springfield.
Contact: illinois.issues@gmail.com